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Monday, August 6, 2007

TA is in our hands - finalizing things

Picked up the official TA document at the FedEx office tonight. We had to sign for it. We have flights on hold and had to change our CA appointment since we could not get flights back. It is the end of summer when we go and people are heading back to the US for school and then the long wknd - so there was a week we could not travel.So looks like we will leave on the 15th next week. We almost left in a couple of days but it just did not work out. We will probably stay 3 weeks.It is going to be harder with the kids traveling so keeping things to a minimum if possible.We will visit our friend Lisa in her hometown, have friends from HK come and visit us, another set of friends are moving there and we hope to see them as well. Finally, we may have an opportunity to see Reagan's foster mother and orphanage. We are looking into this now and hope it will work out.They are building a new orphange and will be tearing down the one that was there when Reagan was abandoned at the gates on July 28, 2002 at 3 days old. We felt if we could do this, it would be good for Reagan to see this place as is and meet his foster mother and the staff. We know someone who just did this and has given us the contact person and we are waiting to hear if we can do this, last min.We also plan to meet our friend Lisa's sister in Dongguan after we are done - she lives there and wants to meet us. So we will hire a cab for the day and spend time with her and her son.So this will not be the typical adoption journey with parents and tours - it is looking more like a family vacation - which we feel more comfortable with. Doing things that will build on our memories and our kids and building relationships in China that will last a lifetime. -- Lavonne (photo of Reagan at 3 days old)

My kids

Odessa our cat

Lily our baby cat

Fundraiser for Family in Need

Born In Our Heart

About Me

Finally a family of 6 living in Renton, WA. Mom is an insane Canadian who loves the Lord and tries daily to serve HIM. Married to a great bug; man for 10+ years - which the kids adore.
4 precious kids we have been blessed with through adoption from China. Each whom God specifically picked for us with very unique and individual personalities that keep us on our toes. Finally 2 cats Odessa & Lily and the occasional temp pet...rat, ants, frogs that daddy has a habit of bringing home.

Wild Olive Trees

So what are these terms?

SN - Special NeedsNSN - Non Special NeedsPA - Pre Approval of the Child (Sn Child)HS - Homestudy - paperwork to prove you are worthy to adoptLOI - Letter of Intent (for sn child)DTC - Documents to ChinaLID - Log in Date (of DTC paperwork)LOA - Letter of AcceptanceTA - Travel ApprovalGotcha Day - The day you get your child -(Future Anniversary Date)CA - Consulate Appointment - the final day when the US Gov. finalizes your adoption and you can come home with your child.

Winston Timeline:

11-5-07 We heard about Justin11-8-07 Talked with Madison Adoptions11-9-07 Was sent files11-11-07 Decided to apply and sent inapplication/LOI11-13-07 Got called we were matched -sent in more papers11-20-07 Sent Madison 1st batch of paperwork & $$11-28-07 Winston has surgery in China TOF12-4-07 Homestudy interview and pmt12-7-07 Updated Photo's from LWB1-2-08 PA for Winston1-10-08 Dossier State Certified in WA1-14-08 Dossier Authenticated in SF1-21-08 Canadian Birth CertificateAuthenticated in BC1-23-08 Papers sent to DE1-24-08 Dossier off to CHINA !!! (DTC)1-28-08 Dossier at CCAA1-29-08 Winston's 3rd Birthday1-30-08 LIDFeb - constant updates on our guy5-1-08 LOA !!!! (Letter of Acceptance)5-2-08 officially got via DHL and sent back to DE5- 08 Earthquake - many killed5-21-08 China sent TA5-23-08 MAAW got TA5-28-08 We officially got TA via DHL6-13-08 Scott and Jim leave for China6-15-08 Gotcha Day - Father's Day !!6-25-08 CA apt - US Embassy6-26-08 PM - Swear In Ceramony6-27-08 Come Home!!! - journey finally over